The National Bank of Serbia (NBS) has taken steps to align its payment systems and regulations with European Union standards. Serbia has officially become the 41st member of the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA), marking a significant milestone in its path toward European integration.
This development will allow all participants in the payment schemes of the European Payments Council to send and receive SEPA Credit Transfers (SCT), SEPA Instant Credit Transfers (SCT Inst), and SEPA Direct Debits (SDD) to and from participants in these schemes in Serbia. However, this will only be possible once Serbian financial institutions gain access to these systems.
According to the European Payments Council’s timeline, Serbian financial institutions will be able to join SEPA payment schemes starting in November 2025. The earliest date for payment service providers in Serbia to be operationally ready is set for May 2026, with the exact date to be confirmed later.
Finance Minister Siniša Mali highlighted the benefits of Serbia’s SEPA membership, stating that citizens will be able to carry out payment transactions in euros with SEPA member countries, including all EU nations, in a faster, more efficient, and more cost-effective manner.
